Things to do around Aqaba

Located on the Red Sea coast in the south of the Middle Eastern nation of Jordan, Aqaba is the country’s only port and an important economic and cultural centre. The city has seen large scale development over the last few years and has become an exciting tourist destination for visitors from elsewhere in Jordan and abroad. However, the historic core of the city remains largely intact and it is home to numerous sites of historic interest, having being inhabitant for at least the last 6000 years.



History lovers will be completely enamoured with Aqaba with its mix of Roman, Islamic, Crusader and Ottoman architecture. Little or nothing remains of the structures reported in Biblical accounts of the city, then known as Alya but a fourth century Roman church survives, reported by archaeologists to be the earliest purpose built Christian church in the world. The imposing Aqaba Fort was originally built in the fourteenth century and was rebuilt by a Mamluk sultan a hundred years later before being extensively altered during the Ottoman period. It is a fascinating insight into life in the region after the departure of the crusading forces from Europe.

Like many other cities along the northern Red Sea coastline, including Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, Aqaba is home to a fast-growing diving community. Although the country’s coastline is short, in the mid-1960s King Hussein agreed to a land trade with Saudi Arabia, swapping a portion of desert land for an additional twelve kilometre strip of coastline. This opened up access to the remarkable Yamanieh coral reef which has attracted scuba divers from all over the world keen to swim with some of the beautiful tropical fish who inhabit these warm waters.



Aqaba has been envisioned as a major Red Sea resort by Jordanian authorities and this has been the reason behind the rapid development of the last decade and has only helped to fuel the diving boom. Shopping centres have begun to spring up from the parched earth while accommodation options have exploded over the last few years. Today when choosing your hotel in Aqaba, you are able to choose from many of the leading global luxury chains. At the moment, the new resort areas have a rather pristine feeling, although the cranes that mark continuing development can be something of an eyesore.



While Aqaba has not yet reached its full potential as a booming resort, this transformation is likely only a few short years from completion. As it is today, Aqaba remains a compelling city with a rich history, excellent diving and an impressive array of amenities, without the bustle of the other resort cities dotted around the Red Sea coast.



Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.